Daichi: arimasu =/= to have ... Or, at least, I don't think it should be thought of in that way. English just happens to say "HAVE" when we really mean "exist." If people equate arimasu with have, then they're going to start saying "kaze ga arimasu" for "I have a cold."

A TV exists in my room is just a funny way of saying I have a TV in my room. So, you're right... we typically say "have"... I'm just afraid saying arimasu can mean 'to have' is going to get people thinking about it wrong. >.<

I think the trouble comes in.. hrm... how to say this. OK... "A TV is in my room" is an accurate literal translation. But most english speakers wouldn't just say that out of the blue. Suzie won't say to Kate, "A TV is in my room!"

She's more likely to say "I have a TV in my room!"

They mean the same thing... one is more natural than the other, though. Usually when trying to translate (like for Anime subtitles or whatever) you'll translate the meaning, not the words...

It makes it difficult for learning purposes, though, since both are correct. Just the 'natural' sentence will not correlate directly to the japanese word for word.

Definetly. It's hard to learn any language- particualry a language as diffirent as japanese- when you are constantly comparing it to English. I learned that the hard way- it's frustrating to try to understand particles by comparing them to english.

But I think I just reiterated what you said.

Last edited by sakura_joshin on Tue 08.30.2005 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Arimasu means 'to exist (for non-living things).Toshokan ga arimasu. There is a library.Watashi no heya de terebi ga arimasu. There is a TV in my room.

Imasu is 'to exist (for living things).Tanaka-san ha toshokan ni imasu. Tanaka-san is in the library.Isu no shita ni neko ga imasu. There is a cat under the chair.

How was that?

First I want to say SORRY for not replying sooner -__-;;
Thanks for the example. It really did help but I'm now I'm not sure when to use desu and when to use imasu. If imasu is for living things and arimasu is for non-living things, is desu used when speaking about yourself? I know I must be annoying you by now...
Oh and my book says bunkei. ::shrugs::

And imasu is more like 'is, are'... perhaps more in a LOCATION kind of sense.
Ringo ha teburu no ue ni arimasu. (The apple is on the table. -- It's LOCATION is on the table.)
Watashi ha apaato ni imasu. (I am in my apartment. -- my LOCATION is in my apartment... it is not like I = apartment)

I think I understand now ^__^
Another question? In my book it says:
Future desho may be Does that mean that is I were going to say Sono gaijin wa hen desu [that foreigner is odd] but I wanted to say That foreigner may be odd, would I say Sono gaijin wa hen desho?